President Monson Sends Condolences to Texas Shooting Survivor at Family Funeral

Photo by Jennifer Martino

In a day when miracles are often scoffed, there is a girl
that is a living example that miracles – along with angels – do indeed exist.

With policeman at every door, hallway, and entrance of the
Houston LDS church, and large media trucks parked strategically across the street,
it was a surreal scene as mourners, supporters, and family members entered
to attend the funeral for the six victims of the recent Texas shooting massacre.

Upon entering, eyes were immediately drawn to six glossy
white caskets lining the front of the chapel, beautiful floral sprays draping
the tops.

It was hard to know how to make sense of the circumstances
of the last five days when a family was murdered, with 15-year-old Cassidy Stay
as the sole survivor.

Services were held Wednesday for Stephen and Katie Stay and Cassidy's four siblings: Bryan, 13, Emily, 9, Rebecca, 7, and Zach, 4. On the stand
behind the caskets were large black and white individual photos of each family
member. In the center – just as they were in life – was a photo of husband and
wife – and best friends – Stephen and Katie, smiling. Happy.

Photo by Jennifer Martino

An overflow crowd that filled the entire chapel and gym (as
well as other local buildings via live feed) listened as life sketches,
eulogies, and family members all echoed the same theme of forever families and
an overwhelming gratitude for the gospel.

In attendance were first responders, several prominent
members of both the Houston and LDS community including Congressman Ted Poe,
Constable Ron Hickman, and Elder Bradley D. Foster of the Second Quorum of the
Seventy.

Speakers painted mental pictures of Bryan as a boy who loved
to give hugs, running at his victim full speed ahead and throwing his arms
around the person; Emily’s constant singing; Becca’s (always) dirty glasses and
fly away hair; and super blonde Zach who loved his fish whom he named Goldie,
Blackie, and Spottie.

Bishop Scott McBride spoke of how in the Church we are a
family and are involved in each other’s lives.

“Our faith is firm,” he said. “The love of Jesus Christ and
Heavenly Father is eternal.”

McBride fondly spoke of Emily. “It was like a little bit of
heaven shining through Emily.”

Photo by Jennifer Martino

He continued, “People have been asking me what they can do.
What can we do? We can open our
hearts and eyes to see heaven. We can know we are children of a loving Heavenly
Father. We can know that we are not alone. We can be more patient. We can be
more forgiving. Be ministering angels here on earth. We can be the windows of
heaven as we serve each other. As we do so, we will feel the eternal love of our
Savior.

Concluding the service was Elder Bradley Foster who began
with a personal letter from Church president Thomas S. Monson. In the heartfelt
letter of condolence, Monson marveled at Cassidy’s remarkable strength,
testimony, and courage.

The letter encouraged her to continue in fasting and prayer
for help, reminding her that she was sealed to a family, an ordinance that
binds families together forever.

Monson also promised that she would find strength as she
followed the Savior.

“The gospel is what
makes people like Katie and Stephen,” Foster said. “They understood the plan of
salvation. They understood we were brought here to experience earth, but our
environment changes daily because of people’s choices. There is no earthly
explanation for something like this. But it’s not what happens to us but how we
handle those things.”

Foster spoke of the enabling power of Christ to get us
through these times.

“Think about the Savior on that Friday. He was about to be
put on a cross by evil men. After he
died people around Him cried and asked how God could have let this happen.
Wasn’t He God’s own son? But as dark as Friday was, Sunday came. The tomb was
empty.

“Good will always triumph over evil. We will have trials but
'be of good cheer. I have overcome the world' (John 16:33).

“The Holy Ghost brings peace, comfort, and understanding
about those things that there is no earthly understanding for. The Holy Ghost
reminds us of the eternal perspective.”

Foster’s take away message, however, was one of hope and that
some of us could finally know how to emotionally process what we were
experiencing.

“Cassidy had to stay behind to carry on the family name. She
had to stay to carry on what her parents had taught her. Cassidy, you’re a
sermon to a world losing faith, to a world that doesn’t believe in families
anymore.

“The plan of happiness is real,” Elder Foster promised. “It’s
produced people we’ve seen here.”